Dual Enrollment in PWCS
Dual enrollment courses allow eligible high school students to simultaneously earn credit toward their high school diploma while also earning college credits. Dual enrollment courses are taught at the high school by a PWCS teacher and offer college credits through agreements with the college or university.
PWCS has dual enrollment agreements with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and Shenandoah University.
Eligibility for Dual Enrollment
High school juniors and seniors, who meet the established criteria of the sponsoring college/university (NOVA and Shenandoah University), are eligible to participate in the dual enrollment courses. Freshmen and sophomores may be granted exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
Benefits of Dual Enrollment
- Allows students to receive high school and college credits simultaneously
- Eliminates the duplication of courses taken in high school and college
- Permits students to accumulate college credits before entering college
- Gives students the opportunity to complete general education courses required at most colleges and allows them to explore different fields before declaring a major
- Facilitates the transition from high school to college by allowing students to get a sense of how high school courses and teachers differ from college courses and professors
- Lowers the cost of a two- or four-year college education
Cost of Dual Enrollment courses
For NOVA courses taken in a PWCS high school there will not be a charge for tuition. See your school counselor for more information about fees associated with dual enrollment.
Registration Process
Students should indicate interest in dual enrollment opportunities when meeting with the school counselor to discuss course selection. The school counselor will provide next steps for registration.
Available Dual Enrollment courses
PWCS students may take the following courses for dual enrollment credit based on established agreements for the 2023-24 school year:
- Biology II: Survey of Advanced Topics in Biology
- Chemistry II
- Computer Networking I, II, and III
- Cybersecurity Network Systems
- Cybersecurity Systems Technology I and II
- Early Childhood Education I and II
- English College Composition 12
- Entrepreneurship
- IB Business Management (SL)
- IB Biology (HL)
- IT Database Design and Management
- IT Database Design and Management, Advanced
- IT Fundamentals
- IT Programming
- IT Programming, Advanced
- IT Web Technologies
- IT Web Technologies, Advanced
- Photography I
- Pre-Calculus With Trigonometry for AB
- SOL English College Composition 11
- Survey of World Literature 12
- Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow*
- US/VA Government
- US/VA History
- Welding I, II, and III
*Offered in partnership with Shenandoah University. All other courses offered in partnership with NOVA.
Other Opportunities to Earn College Credit
Some students wish to get a head start on their college course work while in high school and wish to take classes that are not included in the dual enrollment agreement. Interested students should discuss this option with their school counselor for more information.
In addition, students can explore the Early Online College opportunities available in partnership with NOVA.